READ: 2 Kin. 21:1–26: … Manasseh … abominations … high places … Baal … all the host of heaven in both courts of the house of the LORD … soothsayers … idols … very much innocent blood … Amon … idols … forsook the LORD …
Manasseh receives the title of king already at twelve years of age, but his father still reigns ten years. At the death of Hezekiah, Manasseh is twenty-two years old. It is shocking to read how much this son differs from his father. While Hezekiah was God-fearing, Manasseh shows himself in everything exceedingly ungodly.
He does very much evil in the eyes of the LORD to provoke Him to anger. He makes it worse than his grandfather Ahaz. All forms of idolatry are reintroduced and even more extensively established. The high places for Baals and Asherahs, the service of Molech with consuming fire, and additionally the Assyrian worship of the stars, with altars even in the temple of the LORD. Furthermore, soothsaying and spiritism are introduced.
Special attention is given to theinnocent blood that Manasseh sheds. Among this will also have been much blood of prophets. It is so much that Jerusalem is filled with it (v.16). All this provokes the LORD so that He pronounces His curse over Jerusalem. He will forsake His temple and cause Jerusalem to be destroyed.
The LORD looks back over all the time from the exodus out of Egypt until now: they have done what is evil and provoked Me to anger (v.15).
In 2 Chr. 33 we read of a conversion of Manasseh after he is taken captive to Babylon. He returns, removes the idols, restores the altar of the LORD, and calls to serve Him. After Manasseh his son Amon becomes king at twenty-two years of age. He walks in all the sinful ways his father had gone. After two years he is killed by his servants, who in turn are killed by the people.
The corruption of the best is the worst; how is it now?
Singing: Ps. 28:2,4